Become a better writer with these 15 ways to write faster

Sometimes it seems as if there aren’t enough hours in the day to get all your work done—especially if you’re a writer. Some people are writing machines; they get an idea, pound it out in minutes, and move on to something else. For most of us, however, it takes time to write something decent. If we could learn to write faster, we could get more writing done and have more time for ourselves.

Anyone can learn to write faster; it’s not always a skill we’re born with. And writing fast is a skill that all writers should master. So, if you struggle to find the time to write posts for your blog, this infographic by Daisy Hartwell for Custom Writing shares useful tips on how to write faster. From structure to formatting and choosing when to write, check out the infographic below:

15 ways to write faster

1. Silence your inner editor

This person may seem like your best, most concerned friend, but, in fact he is your worst enemy. To deal with him, imagine he’s real; put him in a safe and lock it shut. You hear that silence? Now it’s time to start writing.

2. Structure is everything

It’s as important as writing itself. Organize as much as you can. Make a super-duper detailed plan of your writing tasks and how they fit into your deadline. And don’t forget to schedule not only tasks, but time for editing.

3. Defeat distractions

All your social media activities relatives, friends, pets and housework can ruin your writing plan. Remember one thing: you’re the boss. So turn off all of those distractions for a while. Try putting on your headphones; you don’t even have to listen to music. Just having them on will prevent others from interrupting your productivity.

4. Track your words-per-hour

You can write faster by competing against yourself for a higher word-per-hour ratio. More words every hour; from now on, this will be your challenge. You can check your live writing speed at typingtest.com.

5. Format at the end

A quality check is the final step of your task. Forget about those annoying red and green squiggly lines and hints. You can write faster if you turn them off and do the writing work first. You can also use automatic text formatting in your word processing program.

6. Write faster by writing what you know

You can save time by writing about something you already know. Cut the research time and use your experience and knowledge instead. Show your stuff. It isn’t always about events, it’s also about emotions. You don’t have to be an astronaut to write about Mars.

7. Keep all notes in one book

Optimize your ideas. If you only use one notebook or file or for each specific story or topic, you can scan your thoughts much faster. And using a capitalized single word or phrase to indicate each idea, it’ll help you navigate through your notebook.

8. Use a 30-minute timer

Short but regular breaks will help keep your brain focused on the task. Set an alarm and take a 5-minute pause. You can use the world-famous Pomodoro technique: set a timer for 25-minutes, work until it goes off, and then take a short break (3-5 minutes) and a longer break after four pomodoros.

9. Do a 5-minute workout

Research shows that varying brain and physical activity can boost your productivity. 20 push-ups is the perfect way to spend your break time. Or do yoga. Offset the risk of developing memory loss or dementia with a regular practice of yoga and meditation.

10. The bridge: build connections between your tasks

It’s cool if you had a super productive day. Try and take the same rhythm tomorrow. Summarize what you’ve done today and assign yourself new tasks for tomorrow. Make a new to-do list for the next day, don’t update or expand the existing one. You’re analyzing what’s been done and creating a new list based on the day’s events and tasks.

11. Get comfortable while writing

You can write faster by working in a comfortable environment. Get on your cozy chair or couch, fill up your water bottle, and lock the door if you need to. A positive approach is key. Studies have shown that for more precise, detail-oriented work, a clean and organized workspace is beneficial.

12. Think about your reward

Motivate yourself. A cup of coffee might be a nice reward for a paragraph. By treating yourself, you move forward in a good mood. Try giving a friend or relative $20. If you get the task done by a certain time, you get your $20 back. If not, you lose it.

13. Choose the most productive time of day

You already know when you’re productive as hell; early hours or late evenings, it’s up to you. Even two hours of work at maximum concentration can be super-effective. If you can work on a project for 90-minutes or more without many breaks, that’s a sign you’re operating at peak productivity. Use this knowledge to identify the best time of day to write faster.

14. Play typing games

Slow at typing? Write faster with with free online tutorials for increasing your speed—the web is full of them. Top 3 typing games:

The Frogs are off their Diet

Typing Maniac

Type Type Revolution

15. Practice

You won’t write faster after just the first article. Prepare to wait and work hard before any results show. Writing on a regular basis will help you gain speed.

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For the past decade I’ve been working as both a freelance and in-house Art Director / Senior Graphic Designer in the Greater Toronto Area. Collaborating with copywriters, web programmers, and marketers, I enhance client brand strategies and communicates the essence of their business through every concept.